HISTORICAL NOTICES OF DISCOVERIES IN AFRICA 
In tko time of Horodctus, and long afterward, the ge- 
neral opinion was that Africa did not extend so far south 
as the equatorial line. Thoro existed, howover, a tradition 
that Africa had been circumnavigated by the Phoenicians 
about six conturies beforo tho Christian ora; but, if the 
southorn promontory of Africa had really boon reached, 
it is difficult to conceive how so erroneous an impression 
could havo prevailed as to tho extent of tho continent. It 
is, therefore, most probablo that such a voyago had never 
succeeded; and, indeed, tho circumstancos under which it 
was prosecuted, according to tho accounts which havo come 
down to us, only add an additional foaturo of improbability 
to tho story. Turning to modern times, wo find, at tho 
commencement of tho fifteenth century, that Europeans 
were only acquainted with that portion of tho western 
coast of Africa which extends from tho Straits of Gibraltar 
to Capo Nun, — a lino of coast not exceeding six hundred 
miles in longth. Tho Portuguese had tho honor of extend- 
ing this limited acquaintance with tho outline of the African 
continent. Thoir zoal for discovery in this direction became 
truly a national passion, and tho sovereigns and princes of 
Portugal prosecuted this object with singular enthusiasm. 
By tho year 1471 tho Portuguese navigators had advanced 
2i° south of tho Line In 1484, Diego Cam roached 22° 
south latitude. Tho next navigator, Bartholomew Diaz, 
was commanded to pursuo his course southward until ho 
should reach tho extremity of Africa; and to him bolongs 
tho honor of discovering tho Capo of Good Hope, tho namo 
given to it at tho timo by tlio King of Portugal, though 
Diaz had namod it Cabo Tormcntoso, (tho Capo of Tom- 
posts.) Tho Capo of Good Hopo was at first frequently 
called tho Lion of tho Sea, and also tho Hoad of Africa 
In 1497, Vasco do Gama sot forth with tho intention of 
reaching India by sailing round tho Capo of Good Hopo 
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